Boeing has selected its North Charleston facility in South Carolina as the location for a second final-assembly line for the 787 Dreamliner as the programme increases production rates.

The 787 family of aircraft will carry 200 to 250 passengers on flights of up to 8,200nm, at a typical speed of Mach 0.85.

The aerospace major plans to ramp up production of the twin-aisle airliner to ten aircraft a month and the facility will also support testing and delivery of the Dreamliner.

Boeing Commercial Airplanes president and CEO Jim Albaugh said that establishing a second 787 assembly line in Charleston would expand Boeing’s production capability to meet the market demand for the airplane.

“This decision allows us to continue building on the synergies we have established in South Carolina with Boeing Charleston and Global Aeronautica,” he said.

The Charleston facility performs fabrication, assembly and systems installation for the 787 aft fuselage sections, while Global Aeronautica, a partly owned Boeing company, joins and integrates the 787 fuselage sections.

Boeing will perform transitional surge capability at its Washington location until the second assembly line begins operation to introduce the 787-9, the first derivative model of 787.

The surge capability will be phased out after the second line in Charleston is up and running.

55 airlines have ordered 840 Dreamliners since the programme was launched in 2003.